de Broglie waves in amoeboid motility.

The de Broglie wave equation has been applied to the study of amoeboid motility. This leads to precise predictions of wavelengths displayed by the cellular membrane during motility. Motile amoeba are compared to non-biological systems showing de Broglie wave behavior, and three simple experiments are suggested.     

Reconstitution of amoeboid motility in vitro identifies a motor-independent mechanism for cell body retraction

Crawling movement in eukaryotic cells requires coordination of leading-edge protrusion with cell body retraction [1-3]. Protrusion is driven by actin polymerization along the leading edge [4]. The mechanism of retraction is less clear; myosin contractility may be involved in some cells [5] but is not essential in others [6-9]. In Ascaris sperm, protrusion and retraction are powered by the major sperm protein (MSP) motility system instead of the conventional actin apparatus [10, 11]. These cells lack motor proteins [12] and so are well suited to explore motor-independent mechanisms of retraction. We reconstituted protrusion and retraction simultaneously in MSP filament meshworks, called fibers, that assemble behind plasma membrane-derived vesicles. Retraction is triggered by depolymerization of complete filaments in the rear of the fiber [13]. The surviving filaments reorganize to maintain their packing density. By packing fewer filaments into a smaller volume, the depolymerizing network shrinks and thereby generates sufficient force to move an attached load. Our work provides direct evidence for motor-independent retraction in the reconstituted MSP motility system of nematode sperm. This mechanism could also apply to actin-based cells and may explain reports of cells that crawl even when their myosin activity is compromised.     

Automated characterization of cell shape changes during amoeboid motility by skeletonization

Background  

The ability of a cell to change shape is crucial for the proper function of many cellular processes, including cell migration. One type of cell migration, referred to as amoeboid motility, involves alternating cycles of morphological expansion and retraction. Traditionally, this process has been characterized by a number of parameters providing global information about shape changes, which are insufficient to distinguish phenotypes based on local pseudopodial activities that typify amoeboid motility.     

Current concepts. II. New evidence for a locus coeruleus-norepinephrine connection with anxiety.

The hypothesis that brain noradrenergic systems have a broad biological function which is related to human fear or anxiety is reviewed. Data from studies of the function of the nucleus locus coereleus in non-human primates are presented in the context of recent anatomical, physiological, pharmacological, and animal behavioral experiments. Implications are suggested for the treatment of anxiety, drug addictions, pain, and psychosomatic diseases.     

New concepts for rapid yeast settling. I. Flocculation with an inert powder

A novel technique for settling microorganisms has been described. The technique involves adding a dense, inert powder to a suspension of microorganisms under conditions where flocculation of the microorganism with the inert poweder occurs. The flocs formed are small and relatively dense and settle rapidly. Suspensions of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast have been flocculated with several different inert seed materials achieving rapid settling and separations of up to 99.9%. Nickel powder was used as a seed material for most experiments described here, and iron sand showed promise as a cheaper seed for large-scale use. The degree of flocculation and cell separation obtained depended largely on the seed concentration and the components in solution. Temperature and pH had little effect. When the method was initially applied to a practical fermentation, flocculation was poor because of inhibiting compounds in the fermentation medium, but modification of the technique produced good flocculation in the medium.     

New techniques for physical mapping of the human genome.

We describe improvements in techniques and strategies used for making maps of the human genome. The methods currently used are changing and evolving rapidly. Today's techniques can produce ordered arrays of DNA fragments and overlapping sets of DNA clones covering extensive genomic regions, but they are relatively slow and tedious. Methods under development will speed the process considerably. New developments include a range of applications of the polymerase chain reaction, enhanced procedures for high resolution in situ hybridization, and improved methods for generating, manipulating, and cloning large DNA fragments. More detailed genetic and physical maps will be useful for finding genes, including those associated with human diseases, long before the complete DNA sequence of the human genome is available.     

Both contractile axial and lateral traction force dynamics drive amoeboid cell motility

Chemotaxing Dictyostelium discoideum cells adapt their morphology and migration speed in response to intrinsic and extrinsic cues. Using Fourier traction force microscopy, we measured the spatiotemporal evolution of shape and traction stresses and constructed traction tension kymographs to analyze cell motility as a function of the dynamics of the cell’s mechanically active traction adhesions. We show that wild-type cells migrate in a step-wise fashion, mainly forming stationary traction adhesions along their anterior–posterior axes and exerting strong contractile axial forces. We demonstrate that lateral forces are also important for motility, especially for migration on highly adhesive substrates. Analysis of two mutant strains lacking distinct actin cross-linkers (mhcA⁻ and abp120⁻ cells) on normal and highly adhesive substrates supports a key role for lateral contractions in amoeboid cell motility, whereas the differences in their traction adhesion dynamics suggest that these two strains use distinct mechanisms to achieve migration. Finally, we provide evidence that the above patterns of migration may be conserved in mammalian amoeboid cells.     

Inertial vestibular coding of motion: concepts and evidence

Central processing of inertial sensory information about head attitude and motion in space is crucial for motor control. Vestibular signals are coded relative to a non-inertial system, the head, that is virtually continuously in motion. Evidence for transformation of vestibular signals from head-fixed sensory coordinates to gravity-centered coordinates have been provided by studies of the vestibulo-ocular reflex. The underlying central processing depends on otolith afferent information that needs to be resolved in terms of head translation related inertial forces and head attitude dependent pull of gravity. Theoretical solutions have been suggested, but experimental evidence is still scarce. It appears, along these lines, that gaze control systems are intimately linked to motor control of head attitude and posture.     

New concepts for rapid yeast settling. II. pH switching with an inert powder

A new technique is outlined for the rapid settling of yeast cells in fermentation media. The technique involved the addition of dense, inert particles (nickel powder) to a yeast suspension (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) at pH 4.5 and a rapid change of pH to 8.0-9.0. When the pH was changed large flocs formed immediately and settled rapidly, leaving a clear supernatant. On returning the pH to 4.5 the flocs were destroyed. This technique gave larger flocs and higher settling rates than the constant pH method, and much lower nickel/yeast ratios were required. Good flocculation also occurred in a fermentation medium. The technique was used to recycle yeast cells to a semicontinuous ethanol fermentation. Application of the technique to this and similar systems is discussed. The factors affecting yeast/inert powder flocculation are also discussed and a model is proposed to explain the observed experimental behavior for flocculation with a rapid change in pH.